(As stated in the Persian daily 'Kayhan's” interview with the Iranian 5-year-old genius reciter of the Holy Qur'an in Mecca)

(Reproduced with gratitude from the 'Echo of Islam', September and October 1997)

The presence of the Iranian prodigy, Seyyed Mohammad Hossein Tabatabaee at this year's great Hajj pilgrimage rituals and his spectacular participation at various Qur'anic contests there amazed the other pilgrims.

His unbelievable command over the meaning and context of the chapters and verses of the Holy Qur'an made every Muslim particularly the rest of the contestants, praise this young prodigy.

Kayhan's correspondent in Mecca has talked to Mohammad Hossein's father on the subject, focusing on the method he has applied to teach his son the Qur'an, the length of time it took him to memorize the Holy Book and how be gained such a great command over its verses and meaning. The following text is a part of this interview.

The glorious presence of Iran's five-year-old prodigy, Seyyed Mohammad Hossein Tabatabaie at this year's Hajj pilgrimage and his spectacular participation at various Qur'anic events and competitions here, astonished the pilgrims of other countries. His great command over the meaning and the context of the verses surprised the reciters and memorizers of other countries, particularly the Egyptian masters at Mecca's “A Night with the Holy Qur'an” event.

Mohammad Hossein had also separate exclusive meetings with the Saudi Information Minister and the Saudi Minister of Interior in which he answered their questions. When they noticed the precision of Mohammad Hossein's replies regarding the Holy Book and his application of the Holy verses of Qur'an, they requested him to attend another meeting with the family members of high-ranking Saudi officials to witness his miraculous command over the Holy Qur'an.

At this meeting, they had also invited the most prominent Saudi Arabian reciters and memorizers of the Holy Qur'an, some of whom are well known all over the Islamic world. There, Mohammad Hossein for two hours answered numerous questions of a large crowd of Qur'anic masters and reciters, which greatly surprised and impressed every one.

At the end of this meeting, a Saudi Arabian author who has published over a hundred books about the Holy Qur'an so far and trained hundreds of Qur'an reciters himself opined: 'Seyyed Mohammad Hossein Tabatabaee is the great miracle of Qur'anic knowledge and the history of Islam has never before witnessed such a prodigy.”

He further added, “Should I attempt to describe all the various capabilities of Mohammad Hossein to those memorizers of the Holy Qur'an who have not seen him, I'm afraid they may accuse me of in-sincerity, and I won't blame them, because it is truly hard to believe if one has not seen or heard him in person.

During the Hajj pilgrimage rituals, Mohammad Hossein also met various interested groups, besides his participation at Qur'anic events, and answered the questions of every individual.

I once had a chance to talk to Mohammad Hossein's father; who is himself a memorizer of the Holy Qur'an, as well as being his son's teacher.

According to him, Mohammad Hossein began memorizing the Qur'an when he was 2.5 years old. His mother, too, who knows the whole Qur'an by heart, played a great role in teaching him the Holy Book. Even when he was a suckling infant, being rocked in his cradle, he heard his mother recite Qur'anic verses. Therefore, one could say. he got acquainted with the Qur'an ever since he was very little and in fact from the very beginning of his life.

When asked, 'How good Mohammad Hossein's command is in memorizing the Holy Qur'an!” His father replied, “He knows the whole Qur'an by heart, while having a perfect command over the meaning of verses and their relation to the whole text.”

“He can tell from the meaning which verse you have in mind as well as which other verses convey the same meaning.

“He can even tell you the verse's number, the page and the first verse at the top of the next page and the following other four pages. He also knows by heart the full text of several other poetry books, such as the great Iranian poets, Sa'di's Golestan, and Mohtasham Kashani's Diwan.”

When I asked Mohammad Hossein's father about the method he had applied, keeping in mind that his son didn't know how to read and write as a 2.5-year-old baby, he says, “The method we devised for Mohammad Hossein is a good approach for teaching all the pre-school age children.”

“This method is based on a type of sign language. I mean, each sign would remind the child of a meaning, while a combination of signs imply a more abstract meaning. Young children can memorize the Qur'an word by word, while they also learn the meanings, and eventually be able to analyze the meaning of the text.

“Due to lots of hours spent on exercise, the child will soon get acquainted with these signs, so that it takes him only a few seconds to locate the verse intended.

“The number of the signs and symbols employed to teach Mohammad Hossein was between 700 to 800. At this time, upon receiving a few signs from his father; Mohammad Hossein recited from the verse we had requested and this procedure was repeated for recitation of other verses. After reciting each verse, Mohammad Hossein's father asked him what the first verse at the top of the next page was, and then he also recited that verse, as well as the first verses of the following four pages.

Another particular characteristic of Mohammad Hossein is his appropriate use of the holy verses of Qur'an in his routine conversations.

Mohammad Hossein's father explains:

“Mohammad Hossein reasons with his peers with Qur'anic verses while at play, although they might not understand!”

“For instance once his younger brother was running after him to beat him. Seyyed Mohammad Hossein ran to me to take refuge, while reciting the verse, “We saved him (Moses) from the Pharaoh and the cruel deeds of their group” while he meant “Save me from my brother and his cruelty!” Or once when his sister had blocked his way he instantly recited the verse, “And do not sit in every path, blocking the path of Allah.”

“I remember once I asked his sister to have some honey, and she refused,” says Mohammad-Hossein's father; “Right then he recited the holy verse, 'O Messenger! Why do you deprive yourself of what Allah has bestowed upon you?' All in all, he appropriately utilizes verses very often in his daily life.”

I then asked Mohammad Hossein's father to refer to other examples of his Qur'anic conversations. He said, “When he met the former Iranian President Rafsanjani, the president had prepared a prize for him. As soon as he saw the gift he recited the verse, “And I'll send them a gift, so watch carefully what their reaction would be upon receiving it”' which was referring to when Belqays (Queen of Sheba) ruler of the land where the sun was worshipped had been advising her messengers how to behave when delivering her gift to Prophet Solomon!

The president laughed a lot at this and emphasized, “Mohammad Hossein your talent is unique and research must be done regarding the method of your learning.”

Ayatollah Khaz'ali tested the Qur'anic knowledge of Mohammad Hossein for three hours on three consecutive days. He succeeded to answer the Ayatollah's questions thoroughly in various fields including terminology, meaning, recitation, and memorization. During one of these sessions Ayatollah Khaz'ali told Seyyed Mohammad Hossein, “I want to give you a garment as a gift on the occasion of Eid ul-Ghadir;” he instantly replied with the Qur'anic verse, 'The garment of piety; that is the best garment” and he meant' “if you can, provide a spiritual prize for me, not a material one!”

In his meetings with Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, Ayatollah Hassanzadeh Amoli and Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, Mohammad Hossein recited verses from the Holy Qur'an. Those meetings are recorded and the tapes are worth listening to several times. The interesting point is that he is capable of fully utilizing relevant verses or a combination of them in his arguments, which is much more important than memorizing the Qur'an itself. When one of his friends took his colored pencils while drawing, he recited the verse, “So leave them (the wheat) in their sheaths” meaning, “leave the pen in its pack!” The verse belongs to the chapter Joseph in the Holy Qur'an.”

Mohammed Hossein studies at Qom Theological School. His father says, “Seyyed Mohammad Hossein has completed primary courses in Arabic grammar at the Theological School. His name is now among the names of B.A.students that receive a scholarship upon a suggestion made by Ayatollah Meshkini and the other masters and approval of Ayatollah Ostadi. His scholarship money is spent for buying the books he needs and since he is a voracious reader; my limited income was really insufficient both for his tuition and for buying so many books, so this scholarship, thank God, helped us!”

We asked Mohammad Hossein's father whether he thinks his sons is a gifted child. “No,” he replies, “He's not an exceptional child. His talent is not that much above average, although he may be a bit better than the majority. All the Muslim children, I believe, can achieve what he has. Of course, a devoted teacher can help children externalize their talents.

If all the members of the family are acquainted with the Holy Qur'an, it helps the children a lot. At our house, Seyyed Mohammad Hossein grew up in an atmosphere where both his parents and his sister who is two years older than him, all had learned the Holy Qur'an and know it by heart. He himself is now the Qur'an teacher of his three-year-old brother; who is memorizing all of the Holy Qur'an as well.

At the end I asked Seyyed Mohammad Hossein Hashemi Tabatabaee to give us journalists a piece of advice. He replied with reciting six verses from Chapter Hojarat. “O believers! If a wrongdoer brings you a message, investigate and substantiate it, lest you might harm people on the next sundawn and regret your act.”

To obtain a video of the event, please contact the IUS executive at this email: ucecmha@ucl.ac.uk

Compiled by MHM, who takes full responsibility for any errors, for the

Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project

The text of the questions have been amended where considered necessary for clarity of expression. Selection of questions in this compilation was discretionary. The actual answers were given seconds after the question being asked and these are underlined. For some answers an explanation or interpretation was provided, usually by the Sayyid’s father, which has also been indicated where considered necessary.

Arabic text was obtained with the kind help of brother Shaun Astarabadi.

And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command) “Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal.

Pickthall Translation:

And We have enjoined upon man concerning his parents. His mother beareth him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Give thanks unto Me and unto thy parents. Unto Me is the journeying.

Seest thou not that Allah doth know (all) that is in the heavens and on earth? There is not a secret consultation between three but He makes the fourth among them nor between five but He makes the sixth nor between fewer nor more but He is in their midst wheresoever they be: in the end will He tell them the truth of their conduct on the Day of Judgment for Allah has full knowledge of all things.

Pickthall Translation:

Hast thou not seen that Allah knoweth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth? There is no secret conference of three but He is their fourth, nor of five but He is their sixth, nor of less than that or more but He is with them wheresoever they may be; and afterward, on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they did Lo! Allah is Knower of all things.

Such (is the Pilgrimage): whoever honors the sacred rites of Allah for him it is good in the sight of his Lord. Lawful to you (for food in pilgrimage) are cattle except those mentioned to you (as exceptions): but shun the abomination of idols and shun the word that is false

Pickthall Translation:

That (is the command). And whoso magnifieth the sacred things of Allah, it will be well for him in the sight of his Lord. The cattle are lawful unto you save that which hath been told you. So shun the filth of idols, and shun lying speech.

And those who having done something to be ashamed of or wronged their own souls earnestly bring Allah to mind and ask for forgiveness for their sins and who can forgive sins except Allah? And are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done.

Pickthall Translation:

And those who, when they do an evil thing or wrong themselves, remember Allah and implore forgiveness for their sins. Who forgiveth sins save Allah only?. and will not knowingly repeat (the wrong) they did.

Allah did aforetime take a Covenant from the Children of Israel and We appointed twelve captains among them and Allah said: “I am with you: if ye (but) establish regular prayers practice regular charity believe in My apostles honor and assist them and loan to Allah a beautiful loan verily I will wipe out from you your evils and admit you to gardens with rivers flowing beneath; but if any of you after this resisteth faith he hath truly wandered from the path of rectitude.”

Pickthall Translation:

Allah made a covenant of old with the Children of Israel and We raised among them twelve chieftains: and Allah said: Lo! I am with you. If ye establish worship and pay the poor due, and believe in My messengers and support them, and lend unto Allah a kindly loan, surely I shall remit your sins, and surely I shall bring you into gardens underneath which rivers flow. Whoso among you disbelieveth after this will go astray from a plain road.

The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year) so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred; that is the straight usage. So wrong not yourselves therein and fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together. But know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.

Pickthall Translation:

Lo! the number of the months with Allah is twelve months by Allah's ordinance in the day that He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred: that is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves in them. And wage war on all the idolaters as they are waging war on all of you. And know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him).

Nor should the believers all go forth together: if a contingent from every expedition remained behind they could devote themselves to studies in religion and admonish the people when they return to them that thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against evil).

Pickthall Translation:

And the believers should not all go out to fight. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may gain sound knowledge in religion, and that they may warn their folk when they return to them, so that they may beware.

That they said (in boast) “We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary the Apostle of Allah”; but they killed him not nor crucified him but so it was made to appear to them and those who differ therein are full of doubts with no (certain) knowledge but only conjecture to follow for of a surety they killed him not.

Nay Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power Wise.

Pickthall Translation:

And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger They slew him not nor crucified, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain.